Registering apparatus



July zo ,1926. 1,592,968v

BY MWMSIMM TToR/VEY'G July zo, 1926.

F. R. DALY REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed March 25 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 fZG IN VEA/Tof? F/iH/vc/c R DALY Aw, n

@Wfl @www /7rToR/v5ro Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS R. DnLY, or MINNEAPoLrs, MINNEsomA.

REGISTERING APPARATUS.

Application led March 23, 1923. `Serial No. 627,226.

The invention relates to newand useful improvements in registering apparatus and is adapted to register and count the units of liquid fuel consumed by an internal combustion engine. This mechanism 'is 4particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a vacuum fuel feeding system for supplying fuel to the engine.'

The function and operation of the present vacuum fuel feeding systems is Well known to those skilled ingthis art and it may be noted that such systems employ a valve operable to openand close the inlet into the vacuum tank from the vacuum pipe leading from the tank to the usual intake manifold and also a valve operable to open and close the outlet to the atmosphere. The substantiall simultaneous and opposite movement of these valves is controlled by the movement of a float inthe vacuum tank. It may also be pointed out that upon each time the oat moves the air valve to closed position and the vacuum valve to open position,

a predeterminedquantity of liquid fuel isv drawn from the main supply tank to the vacuum tank. When the predetermined quantity `has been so drawn to the inner vacuum tank, the liioat is raised and the vacuum valve isclosed and the air valve l0 is opened affording the vacuum tank com` munication to the atmosphere so that the drawn supply Will be ported to the outer tanko from which it may pass' by gravity to the carburetor. This float movement con- 85 tinues during operation ofthe engine and each time that the float opens the air'valve and closesy the vacuum valve, a` predetermined quantity of fuel is permitted to pass to the outer tank for delivery to the car- 0 buretor and subsequent consumption by the engine.

Broadly considered, this invention includes means operated by movement ofl the vacuum tank mechanism to count and register the fillings of the inner vacuum tank so that'an accurate register may be had of the fuel consumption of the engine With whichv this apparatus is employed. In its preferred form such apparatus is operably connected to the'air valve so that movement of such valve to closed position, during the filling operation, functions to actuate a common form of counter so that the unit of vacuum tank is reg- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a common form of vacuum tank With the novel apparatus applied thereto and shown partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section.

Figure 2' is a view in side elevation of a vacuum tank with the novel apparatus in assembled relation, showing a common form of counter; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure l but showing the parts in the position assumed during the filling and counting operation.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, the apparatus is connected for actuation by -the usual air valve of a Well-known form of vacuumfuel feeding system comprising the inner vacuum tank 4, outer tank 5, float 6, pipe 7 leading from the main fuel Supply tank, pipe 8 leading from the intake manifold and adapted to be opened and closed by .the vacuum valve 9,

and the pipe 11 leading from the inner tank i 4 to the atmosphere and adapted to be opened and closed by the usual air valve 12. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, the inner vacuum tank 4is open to the-atmosphere through the unseated air valve 12 and pipe 11 so that any partial vacuum in the tank 4 is destroyed with the resultthat liquid fuel, usually gasoline, mayl drop by gravity through' the bottom port 13 and its valve 14 to the outer tank- 5 and thence by the pipe 15 to the usual carburetor (not necessary to be shown). However, When the level of the fuel in the inner tank drops below aprequantity to the outer tank and carburetor.

commences. Therefore, upon each closing of the an' valve or opening ot the vacuum valve a predetermined quantity of tuel is ldrawn from the supply tank to the inner tank tor delivery to the outer tank and Carburetor.

Electrical means are employed. in conjunction with the air valve and a common form of counter whereby each such quantity ot' fuel may be registered. In the drawings there is shown a conventional representation ot an;v of the well-known .iforms of counters 1T adapted to be mounted in an instrument board 18 ot an automobile. The counter wheels are adapted to be turned in the usual manner by means of a ratchet wheel 19. The ratchet wheel is adapted to be actuatedby a pawl 21 which is carried b v a core 22 slidably mounted within the solenoid 23 carried by the base 24 suitably' secured to the counter 17. A circuit for the dit euergization of the solenoid is provided by the two wires 25 and 26 which are in circuit with the usual electricsystem (not necessary 'to be shown) of the internal combustion engine or automobile. A switch is interposed in this solenoid' circuit so that. upon closure thereoh the solenoid will he' energized to move the pawl 2l 'forwardly in order to turn 'the ratchet 10 one notch and thereby cause the counter to register a unit.

IThis electric switch is vpreferably such that the solenoid circuit is closed upon movement ot the air valve 12 to the seated position assumed by it when the vacuum valve tank is closed to the atmosphere and a detinite quantity ot fuel is drawn' Jfrom the main supply tank to the tank Li of the vacuum feeding system. lThe switch and its controlling mechanism is preferably carried within an l.-shaped housing composed ot an upright portion 27 and a horizontal portion 23. rllie wire 25 is terminally Secured to a conductor 29 while the wire 26 is similarly secured to a conductor 3l. The crmductors 29 and 3l are mounted normally to assume the position shown in Figure 3 wherein their respective contacts 32 and 33 are in electrical. circuit-closing position. The two conductors 29 and 31 are carried by the blocks .3i-ot insulation which are bolted to the housing portion 28.

The contacts 32 and 33 are adapted to be moved and held in the circuit-opening position shown in Figure 1 by means of the insulated head of the stem 36 borne by the coupling 37. The upper port-ion of this coupling carries the housing portion 28 in threaded engagement therewith while the lower ends ot the coupling 37 is supported in threaded engagement by the tank 5.

A headed pin 38 is tiXedly secured to, and upwardly projects from, the usual valve 12 although, as a matter of commercial expediency, the valve 12 and pin 38 are integrally formed. The lower end of the stem 36 is also provided with a head 39 for engagement. oi the head of the pin 38 upon upward unseating movements of the valve 12. The upright portion 27 of the housing is preferably hollow and is provided with ports 41 open to the atmosphere. These ports permit the escape of gasoline or other liquid fuel which tends to jet upwardly through the air valve 12, when, for any reason, the internal combustion engine runs backwardly.

As the air' valve is in open position more time than it is in its lower seated position, the contacts 32 and 33 are so arranged with relation to the operating stem 36 that the upper position 'of the stem eiiects breaking oi the solenoid circuit. Hence, the current is sent through the solenoid only when the air valve is seated and drawing the springpressed pawl 21 to right (see lFigure 2), the ratchet is turned the distance of one notch and the counters correspondingly turned to register the quantity ot fuel drawn to the inner tank 4 and thereafter to the carburetor. rThe counters may be adapted, as is well understood in this art, to register the units of Jfuel drawn to the engine in quarts or gallons or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vacuum fuel-feeding system comprising a filling and an emptying chamber, the filling chamber having a valve-controlled opening leading to the intake manifold of i* a carburetor 'and a valve controlled opening leading to atmosphere, and a oat in the lling chamber connected with the two valves to open one of said valves as the other valve is closed; an electrically operated register, a switch tor opening and closing the electric circuit to control the register, and means operatively connectingv the switch with the valve controlling the communication of the filling tank with the atmosphere to actuate the switch from said valve.

2. In a vacuum fuel-feeding system comprising a filling chamber communiehting with a source of supply and a point of delivery, a valve controlling communication between the filling chamber and an intake maniold of a carburetor, a valve control- 1,592,968 i n v 1in communication between the chamber ciated-with the switch end actuated from en atmosphere, and a oat in the chamber the valve controlling etmosphce cemmimiconnected with the two valves t0- open one cation for actuating the switch te open and 10 as thecther. is closed; an electrically operclose the circuit.

ated register, a switch for opening and c1os- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set ing 'en' 'electric circuit :for controlling the my bend this 21st day of Merch, 1923. register, and a reciprocating member asso- FRANCIS R. DALY. 

